Patrol

FBI Says Violent Crime Down Slightly in 2017

After two consecutive years of increases, the estimated number of violent crimes in the United States decreased 0.2% in 2017 when compared with 2016 data, according to FBI figures released on Monday. Property crimes dropped 3.0%—the 15th consecutive year the collective estimates for these offenses declined, the FBI said.

"The 2017 statistics show the estimated rate of violent crime was 382.9 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants, and the estimated rate of property crime was 2,362.2 offenses per 100,000 inhabitants," the FBI said in a statement. "The violent crime rate fell 0.9 percent when compared with the 2016 rate; the property crime rate declined 3.6%."

A high-level summary of the statistics submitted, as well as estimates for those agencies that did not report, follows:

In 2017, there were an estimated 1,247,321 violent crimes. The estimated number of robbery offenses decreased 4.0 %, and the estimated number of murder and nonnegligent manslaughter offenses decreased 0.7 % when compared with estimates from 2016. The estimated volume of aggravated assault and rape (revised definition) offenses increased 1.0 % and 2.5 %, respectively.

Nationwide, there were an estimated 7,694,086 property crimes. The estimated numbers for two of the three property crimes showed declines when compared with the previous year’s estimates. Burglaries dropped 7.6 %, larceny-thefts decreased 2.2 %, but motor vehicle thefts rose 0.8 %.

The FBI estimated law enforcement agencies nationwide made 10.6 million arrests, (excluding those for traffic violations) in 2017.

The arrest rate for violent crime was 160.7 per 100,000 inhabitants; the arrest rate for property crime was 388.7 per 100,000 inhabitants.

By violent crime offense, the arrest rate for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter was 3.8 per 100,000 inhabitants; rape (aggregate total using the revised and legacy definition), 7.2; robbery, 29.3; and aggravated assault, 120.4 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Of the property crime offenses, the arrest rate for burglary was 61.7 per 100,000 inhabitants; larceny-theft, 296.0; and motor vehicle theft, 28.2. The arrest rate for arson was 2.8 per 100,000 inhabitants.

In 2017, 13,128 law enforcement agencies reported their staffing levels to the FBI. These agencies reported that, as of October 31, 2017, they collectively employed 670,279 sworn officers and 286,662 civilians—a rate of 3.4 employees per 1,000 inhabitants.

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